Padres to open 2020 season vs. NL West rival
SAN DIEGO -- Major League Baseball unveiled its 2020 schedule on Monday. The Padres' slate is bookended by home series against National League West rivals and highlighted by some intriguing matchups against American League Central foes.
San Diego will open its 2020 season on Thursday, March 26 against the Rockies, the opener of a four-game series to begin the season. The Braves come to town next for a three-game set. Then, the Padres embark on their first road trip, which features the same two opponents. They'll head to Colorado from April 3-5 and Atlanta from April 6-8.
The AL clubs visiting Petco Park next season include the White Sox, Indians, Twins and Mariners. There are points of intrigue in each of those first two matchups.
When the White Sox visit from May 11-13, it will mark Fernando Tatis Jr.'s first games against the club that signed him, then traded him to land James Shields in 2016. Manny Machado was also linked heavily to the White Sox this past offseason before signing with the Padres.
Then, on June 23-24, the Indians come to town for a two-game reunion series. Beloved former Padres outfielder Franmil Reyes will play his first games back at Petco Park since he was moved in the Trade Deadline deal that sent Taylor Trammell to San Diego. Brad Hand and Adam Cimber, who were sent to Cleveland the previous year, will also return.
As for AL Central road trips, Eric Hosmer is slated to make his return to Kauffman Stadium when the Padres face the Royals from July 24-26. The Friars also have series in Detroit and Cleveland.
Meanwhile, the Padres are scheduled for their usual 19 games against the Dodgers, who they'll likely be looking to unseat in the NL West. The first meeting between the two clubs comes May 1-3 at Petco Park, and their first series at Dodger Stadium takes place the following weekend.
The Padres finish their 2020 campaign with a six-game homestand, including three against the Twins before one final three-game set against the Dodgers.
• Every team's 2020 Spring Training schedule
Lastly -- and very notably -- the Padres unveiled their schedule on social media with a brand new color scheme. The organization will shift to brown in 2020, and its two tweets promoting the schedule unveiling were colored in brown and gold.
Things will be different for the Padres in 2020, in at least one way. They're also hopeful that next year marks the opening of their window for contention in the NL West.